If you have time, have a meal at the Encounter Restaurant in the Theme Building. You can’t miss it. It’s the building in the middle of the drop-off area that looks like a flying saucer with spidery legs. There are some amazing views.

Take the Metro into and out of the airport. It takes about an hour to get to the airport from Downtown Civic Center by Metro.

Go to the In-N-Out Burger in Sepulveda and watch the planes land while you have a cheeseburger.

Instead of driving and parking your own car, take a shuttle to avoid the abysmal traffic conditions on the freeway and at the airport. It will truly save your sanity while you wait in the long lines inside LAX.

If you have a pass, stop by the airline lounges and keep your eyes open for some celebs. LAX airport lounges have some of the best celebrity sightings.

The best coffee at LAX is Klatch Coffee in Terminal 7 near gate 72. Worth seeking out.

If you are flying in during the day, get a window seat. It’s fun to see all the backyard swimming pools.

Los Angeles is a huge city and it's not easy to get around. Rent a car instead of taking a cab or shuttle. It’s often more convenient and sometimes far less expensive.

The LAX FlyAway Bus takes passengers to Union Station (Downtown Los Angeles/Amtrak) for $7. Board buses on the Arrivals Level (the lower one) in front of each terminal under the green "FlyAway, Buses and Long Distance Vans" signs. In addition to Downtown, the service goes to the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles, and the convention center.

Other companies serving the greater Los Angeles area include Grayline, which goes to Anaheim in Orange County; and Santa Barbara Airbus.